Ellen Pompeo Plans to Quit Acting After 'Grey's Anatomy'

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Ellen Pompeo could soon be transitioning to a behind-the-camera role.

The Grey's Anatomy actress shared the news at BuzzFeed Brews with Facebook Live on Wednesday.

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"I definitely don't have a strong desire to act after Grey's," Pompeo said. "I feel myself transitioning. I don't find acting terribly empowering. For the place I am in my life ... I don't necessarily want to work for other people."

Pompeo explained that after all that Grey's has accomplished in its 10 seasons, she has been left with nothing more to prove in the acting arena.

"I'd like to try and challenge myself. I feel like I got the acting thing. I would like to try and see if I could do something different, and be successful at something different. I feel like I'm very successful at acting, at my definition of success. Some other people want films or Oscars or whatever, and that's their journey. For my journey, I kind of feel like I did the absolute top of what I could do with television, and I would like to try a new sport and see if I'm any good at something else."

That something else seems to be producing.

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"Producing is very challenging, but it's very interesting to me and fun to try and find projects," said Pompeo, who started a production company called Calamity Jane. "That's where I really have fun now. That's fun for me, to find a book or an article or an idea and turn it into something."

It could be awhile before Pompeo makes an official career change, as she is currently signed on to Grey's through Season 12. Pompeo was quick to point out that another season isn't promised.

"I don't ever take anything for granted, and I would never be so arrogant as to assume the show would go to Season 12," said Pompeo. "If we're doing our jobs, then possibly we'll be grateful to get a Season 12, but I won't assume anything. Let's just make them happy now before we worry about making them happy four years from now."